Radmila Desic, AM FAIB & Life Member of NAWIC

Westhoff, Directors of Forage Supply Co, Zoe became a part of a bigger picture that could turn the notion of 0% homelessness into reality. With this data, plus further research from industry experts such as Hutt Street Centre, and sponsors like Beyond Bank and Lorrequer Wealth & Advisory, the team designed and built the structure of the first prototype in 2021 called The Calyx 16. The generous in-kind contributions from organisations such as Studio Nine Architects, Frame Creative, Revolution Roofing, Reece, Treehouse 3D and Ikea enabled the finalisation of the fitout.

This 16sqm one-person dwelling contains an ensuite, kitchenette, study nook and plenty of storage space throughout. Each square meter is working really hard with overlapping uses and additional height totalling 3.6m, to steer away from the traditional ‘shipping container’ idea. The materials chosen are robust to promote a long shelf life, and sustainable, to promote lowest impact on the environment.

“The design includes large windows connecting to the outdoors and allowing access to natural daylight and ventilation. We’ve created a generous, but intimate space, that can be tailored to each individual.” Andrew Steele (Architect)

The goal for Forage Built is to provide innovative, sustainable and transportable short to medium term housing, in the form of tiny homes for those experiencing homelessness.

To begin the journey, Zoe and the team conducted surveys with the end-user to find out what they valued.

“We wanted to steer away from designing a dwelling that was a so called ‘band-aid fix’ but rather look at a medium term solution giving the end-user a feeling of dignity and safety, which informed our design”. Zoe Steele The Calyx 16 is not intended to be used in isolation, but rather built as a village in a community of pods, each separated by landscaping with a central community dwelling acting as a place where the individuals can be up-skilled in preparation for their transition back into society. The village is intended to give the individuals meaningful opportunities for connection. An extra dwelling will also be placed within the village, where a case worker or counsellor can reside.

Zoe has been working tirelessly on the business model to enable a successful outcome and explains next steps to get the village up and running.

“There are three pieces of the puzzle for success of this project. These are land, funding and an operator. Through our pursuits, we have found a number of developers willing to temporarily gift us underutilised land, however funding is an issue and something we are working on”. Zoe Steele

RETHINKING OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGEMENT OF WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

The construction industry in many countries, including Australia, is facing severe challenges due to skill shortages. The industry is in dire need of attracting more trades workers and professionals to sustain its growth. As a result, the need to recruit and retain female workers in the construction industry extends beyond the argument for gender-diverse or inclusive workplaces; it is also about the survival and sustainable growth of construction organisations. While initiatives from the government, organisations, educational institutions, and professional bodies to promote construction careers among women and encourage them to join the industry are commendable, it is also essential to provide a safe and supportive work environment to retain them in the industry, especially in site-based roles.

Although construction workers from different genders are exposed to a similar work environment and job hazards, research shows that occupational health and safety (OHS) risks are gendered. Women may face unique OHS challenges in construction due to gender-based physiological and psychological differences, work and workplace designs, and maledominated macho work culture. For example:

» some personal protective equipment (PPE) may not correctly fit due to natural physiological and morphological differences. » tools, equipment, and workstations designed for men could cause musculoskeletal disorders in women. » tools that fit men’s hands could be too large for women’s tight grip. » lesser upper body strength may result in women exerting more force when lifting or using various materials and tools, causing upper body sprains and strains. » expectations of a demanding and challenging work environment may put extra physical and psychological pressure on women. » exposure to dust, noise, fumes, and chemicals could present reproductive hazards. » lack of suitable site amenities could lead to bladder and kidney infections. » discrimination, harassment, bullying, lack of social support and fewer career development opportunities could cause poor mental health among female workers. » less access to peer support, mentoring, and on-the-job training than their male counterparts could affect female workers’ OHS management knowledge and experience.

However, OHS issues of female construction workers can be overshadowed in OHS records due to their low representation in the industry. Additionally, OHS risk management strategies could fail to recognise and mitigate gender-specific OHS concerns. The limited knowledge about the OHS hazards and risks specific to females may prevent stakeholders from developing tailored strategies to improve the health and well-being of female construction workers. To address this gap, the authors analysed workers’ compensation data (2008-2019) obtained from Safe Work Australia to examine specific OHS risks encountered by female construction workers. The analysis offered the following insights:

⋅Of the 198,895 incidents, 3,686 were recorded for female construction workers. The overall incident rate for the study period was 1.85%. ⋅ Females in both trade and professional roles had lower injury rates than their male counterparts. Therefore, it would be incorrect to assume that women have a higher rate of injuries than male workers. ⋅ Female trade workers are more than 10 times more likely to be injured than female professionals or office-based workers. ⋅ The most common nature of the injury, injury mechanisms and vulnerable occupations vary between the genders. ⋅ Female building and plumbing labourers recorded the maximum number of incidents, followed by earthmoving plant operators and electricians, despite the number of females employed as electricians being roughly two times that of female earthmoving plant operators and four times that of building and plumbing female labourers. In contrast, the proportion of female carpenters and joiners with partial and temporary incapacities is lower than males. ⋅ Falls on the same level contributed to the maximum number of incidents resulting in either total or partial permanent incapacity or temporary